THREE RIVERS – An $11,983 gift from Talisman Energy was approved by the Three Rivers school board on Monday, Nov. 19.

“A gift of this size requires acceptance by the board,” said Superintendant Kenneth Rohrbach.

Tammy Kopplin, a Three Rivers elementary school teacher, worked with the energy company to help acquire a state-of-the-art science lab at the school and was successful in her endeavor.

The board members subsequently approved revenue and expenditure amendments to the budget in the amount of $11,983.

Also, school trustees approved paying off its loan with the Lone Star Program that paid to retrofit lights. The amount was $36,000.

“It’s wise to pay it off and not pay any interest any longer on the note,” Rohrbach said.

Board members approved signing a Texas Association of Community Schools petition that will be sent to the Texas Education Agency, asking that all eight years of federal school district ratings – the Adequate Yearly Progress or ADY ratings – be thrown out.

“Answering to two standards makes no sense. The system is flawed,” Rohrbach said.

Texas school districts currently adhere to the state’s STAAR or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test.

“If the TEA denies the petition, a lawsuit will be filed against the TEA and the Department of Education,” Rohrbach said.

However, the cost of joining the petition was $700 a year.

For that fee, Three Rivers school district’s “name would be added to the petition and to the subsequent lawsuit.” Rohrbach said.

“AYP differs from state to state. Several states have been released from AYP,” he added.

The board also had a consensus on the new Three Rivers field markings. The general difference between the two ideas was white on red and red on black.

The consensus was to have white on red field markings and a traditional bulldog in center field.

No date was set on the field’s work because football season was not over.